Liquid soap dispenser



Oct. 9, 1956 P. s. HANLON LIQUID SOAP DISPENSER Filed Dec. 29, 1954 United States Patent O LIQUID SOAP DISPENSER Patrick G. Hanlon, Kansas City, Kans. Application December ,9, 1954, SerialNo. 478,286)

1 Claim. (Cl. 222-340.)

This invention relates to a dispenser for soap or the like, and more particularly to a dispenser of soap in paste or semi-liquid form.

With apparatuses for dispensing soap heretofore used, it has been a problem of providing a device that would dispense the proper amount of paste or semi-liquid soap from a container in the desired amount and also to prevent leakage of the soap during inoperation of the device.

It is the principal objects of the present invention to provide a dispenser of soap or the like in paste or semiliquid form in which a pressure is created on the soap in the container and dispensed therefrom in measured amounts; to provide valve means for shutting off the soap when the device is inoperative and to prevent leakage therefrom; to provide a cylinder or compartment beneath the container of the soap; to provide a valve at one end of the cylinder; to provide a spring-tensioned plunger having a piston on one end engaging in the cylinder measuring the soap; to provide a container for the soap having a sleeve or plate following the soap to create a pressure thereon to provide for creating a vacuum in the cylinder or chamber beneath the container upon movement of the plunger and piston forwardly in the cylinder thereby aiding in movement of the soap from the container to the chamber in specific amounts upon operation of the plunger; and to provide a device of this character simple and economical to manufacture.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig, l is a perspective view of my invention shown attached to a wall or the like.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the device showing the plunger in inoperative position for loading of the cylinder with the valve closed.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the device showing the plunger in operation and dispensing the soap through the valve means.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on a line 4-4, Fig.2.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the device.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a soap dispenser embodying the features of my invention shown attached to a wall or the like 2 near a wash bowl 3 although it may be used in any desired position. The device consists of a base 4 which may be attached to the support or wall 2 by screws or the like 5 extending through openings 6 in ears or the like 7, 8 and 8.

The base 4 is provided with an annular flange 9 comprising a bottom 10 slightly recessed as indicated at 11 for a housing or container 12 for the soap as indicated at 13. The container has an open top and bottom 14 and 14' and is provided with a cover 15 having a knob 16 provided with an internally threaded bore 17 to receive the threaded shank of a screw or the like 18 to which is attached a chain 19. Attached to the other end of 2,765,964 Patented Get. 9, 1956 the chain is a sleeve or follower plate 20 of substantially the same size of the interior of the container 12 for engaging the top of the paste soap 13 and to follow the same downwardly to create a pressure thereon to dispense the same in equal amounts as hereinafter described.

The base 4 is provided with a longitudinal rib 21 having spaced flanges 22 and 23. The rib has a longitudinal bore 24 open to the forward side face 25 of the base. The bore 24 has a throat 26 extending vertically through the base and connecting with the open bottom of the con-. tainer 12, the container 12 being secured to the base by tight fit thereof in the flange 9,

The inner end of the bore 24 is smaller than the main bore portion as indicated at 30 having a shoulder 31 in the bore and the portion 30 forming a chamber 32 in which is engaged a coil spring 33 and a ball 34 engaging against the seat 35 of a threaded coupling 36 threaded into the bore 31. The outer end of the bore 24 is provided with threads 37 adapted to receive the external threads 38 of a sleeve or bushing member 39 engaging in the bore opening 24, the inner end of the sleeve having inturned flanges 4i) and substantially midway of the sleeve is a collar 41 which includes an outwardly extending portion 42 for receiving the plunger 43 having an internally threaded knob 44 into which is threaded an end 45 of a plunger rod 46 having an enlarged end 47 of substantially the same size as the bore 24 forming a piston for the cylinder and being of a length to measure the desired amount of soap to be dispensed through the dispenser. The compartment 32 has a vertical opening 48 leading downwardly therefrom and then through the rib 21 parallel with and underneath the bore opening 24 as indicated at 49 and then laterally downwardly through the base for directing the soap from the compartment 32 by the hand of the user. An opening 50 in the bottom of the base is provided with a shoulder 51 and pressed into the opening 50 is a tube 52 through which the soap finally passes.

In order to drill the vertically and downwardly extending opening 48 I provide an opening 5.3 in the base 4 through which a drill or the like may be inserted to form said opening 48. The opening 53 is threaded and closed by a screw 54.

In assembling a device constructed as described the container 12 is fitted into the flange 11 of the base 4. The spring 33 is placed in the compartment 32 and the ball 34 inserted therein. The sleeve 36 is then placed in the reduced portion of the bore to hold the ball on its seat forming the structure. The sleeve 39 is inserted over the plunger rod 46 and the piston inserted in the bore opening. The sleeve 39 is then inserted over the plunger rod 46 and the piston on the end of the rod placed in the bore opening and the sleeve threaded thereinto. A spring 55 is then placed over the end of the: plunger rod 46 and one end rests against the inturned flanges 40 on the inner end of the sleeve 39. A sleeve 56 is then placed over the threaded end of the plunger rod 46 and the threaded knob 44 engages the threads on the plunger rod to secure the knob to the plunger rod. The inner end of the sleeve 56 will engage the outer end of the spring 55 and the outer end of the sleeve engages against the knob 44 to exert pressure on the plunger rod to hold the plunger in the position shown in Fig. 2 when not in use.

The soap as indicated at 13 may then be placed in the container 12 and the follower plate 20 inserted thereabove which is attached to the cover 14 and the cover then placed on the container. The plate will force the air out of the soap and it will be contained thereabove thus creating a pressure to tend to force the soap in the same amounts through the throat connecting with the cylinder in the bore and maintain the cylinder full when the plunger is not operated as best illustrated in Fig. 2.

Thus a measured amount will always be available upon operation of the plunger which will open the valve in the end of the bore thus dispensing the soap through the channel at the front of the dispenser for easy access to the hand of the user.

- It will be obvious from the foregoing that I have provided an improved dispenser of paste or semi-liquid soap which will be dispensed in measured amounts and which will prevent leakage when not in operation. What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent a A dispenser for soap comprising, a base having an annular flange, a container for said soap having straight side walls terminating in a bottom edge engaging on said base within said flange, said base having a longitudinal rib thereacross and a bore substantially the width of said container, said bore having a chamber and having a throat connecting with the bottom of the container, the inner end of the bore being reduced forming a compartment in the inner end of the bore connected by a throat 20 with the main bore for receiving the soap from said chamber, a sleeve in said last-named throat having a seat, ball valve means in said compartment, a plunger rod having a piston engaging in said bore and for closing said throat when the plunger is operated, a sleeve engaging in said bore, spring means on said plunger rod engaging said sleeve to move the plunger rod in outward position with the piston away from the throat to create a vacuum in said chamber and aid in feed of the soap to the chamber, a channel leading from said compartment and extending parallel with the main bore to near the front of the base for dispensing the soap from the compartment, a cover for the container, and a follower plate in said container on top of said soap movable by its own weight for creating a pressure on the soap in said container for forcing the soap through said throat to said chamber and operation of the plunger rod will cause the piston to move the soap in measured amounts to said compartment and through said channel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 889,306 Hoffman et a1. June 2, 1908 1,920,867 Kirk Aug. 1, 1933 2,060,297 7 Fox Nov. 10, 1936 

